TIPS, taxes and resort fees are some of the “hidden extras” that could increase the cost of your holiday unexpectedly.
But now it seems some hotels are charging a “housekeeping fee” in a bid to be more green – and you get to foot the bill.
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According to travel website The Points Guy, one of their readers recently stayed at Staybridge Suites Times Square in New York and was charged a housekeeping fee of $5 (£4) per day.
While not a hefty amount per day, it was unexpected; and over the course of a week, it adds up to an extra $35 (£28).
The fee is posted on the hotel’s website at the time of booking, with a notice that reads: “Staybridge Suites Times Square provides guests with daily housekeeping service including Full Service every third day with a full linen refresh.
“This service is in contrast to the Staybridge Suites brand standard of housekeeping service once every 7 days resulting in a nominal $5.00 daily housekeeping fee for all guests.”
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In fact, the fee has been around for a while but travellers are still surprised by it.
On TripAdvisor, one guest wrote: “We stayed there May 2018 and were surprised to see the $5 daily charge on our bill. I think this is a policy that should be reconsidered.
“Unfortunately, it will be the thing I remember the most about this hotel because it was the last thing that happened.”
A spokesperson for the brand said that the extra fee is part of their drive to be more sustainable, according to The Points Guy, although the Times Square location was the only property that charged the fee.
Guests can still the avoid the fee if they decline housekeeping services when they check in.
But Staybridge Suites Times Square isn’t the only hotel that charges a fee to clean your room.
There are some holiday resorts around the world that will charge you a housekeeping fee if your stay is less than a full week.
This is because the resorts normally plan to clean the rooms once a week.
But when you check out early and another guest checks in for the remainder of the week, they have to do a second clean.
One such property is Plantation Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Caroline, who explains how the fees are worked out on its website.
Sun Online Travel previously revealed how resort fees can hike up the cost of your stay.
In some cases, they could double the cost of your stay, and you might not even know about them until you get there.
But some hotels will reward you for refusing housekeeping.
Disney World’s hotels, for example, will give you free gift cards if you refuse their cleaning service.
Sun Online Travel has contacted IHG, operators of Staybridge Suites, for additional comment.
